Scroll back to 1967 when The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly was released. The film was an instant classic. I watched it again recently and enjoyed it thoroughly. That experience led me to do something I’ve done dozens of times since 1967: I used the film’s title as the starting point to analyze something I didn’t like. In this column, I am doing it again.
We are in a “Wild West period” in American politics. A felon is president, and he’s angry. In some ways, he’s on a rampage, energized by power and bent on revenge against people and ideas that he believes wronged him. It’s Old Testament stuff, but the old Donald Trump remains there. He wants to be remembered as a great man despite January 6 and a chaotic first term in the White House. And to achieve that, he must do “big things” and diminish the reputations and legacies of Presidents Biden and Obama and others. Taylor Swift, for example, has repeatedly been the target of juvenile Trump social media posts.
You need a scorecard to keep track of everything Trump has done since winning the November election. (If you want a list, you can find one in the February 9th edition of the New York Times.) Trump has been busy. To keep track, I read the news, discuss issues with others involved in public policy, and monitor Trump’s social media posts (as well as those of his effective co-president, Musk). It isn’t easy to know who is on first.
Where do some of these crazy ideas come from? Why did Trump choose people who he knew, or should have known, were cringeworthy for his cabinet? And how has he managed to create a team that, despite an agenda structured to glorify 78-year-old Trump, shows up to work daily ready to deconstruct government and engage in actions that, with few exceptions, end up in court battles?
To aid in my efforts to understand Trumpism, I expanded the “analytical structure” of the 1967 Clint Eastwood film by adding “The Insane.” I did this because some of Trump’s thinking, relating to his “J6 Patriots,” the Middle East, Canada, and “terminating” the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, can only be categorized as crazy.
Here is part of my working list of what Trump has done since election day 2024:
The Good.
I don’t have anything yet. It is good that illegal border crossings are down, but that arguable “good” outcome results from Trump’s massive ICE crackdown, which includes mass arrests and, most recently, warehousing arrestees in Guantanamo Bay, where critics accuse Trump of building a “concentration camp.”
The Bad.
Cabinet nominees unfit for service because of lack of experience (Hegseth), doubts about loyalty to the United States (Gabbard), or their personal histories (RFK, Jr., Pete Hegseth, Gaetz, and several others). Did you read that RFK, Jr. disclosed massive credit card debt on his financial disclosure forms? What type of person, regardless of their wealth, has a balance of $1 million in card debt?
Can we admit that Elon Musk is “on the scale” and is not the world’s greatest genius? Trump has set Musk loose with the instruction to deconstruct the federal government as a “special employee” of the U.S. Musk’s DOGE, using young, inexperienced people, many from Musk’s SpaceX or Tesla, is evaluating and recommending the “termination” of federal agencies about which they know little or nothing.
Musk contributed $288 million to the Trump campaign. Why would he do that, regardless of his wealth? And why do you think Musk hates government regulation?
How about nominating Ivanka’s father-in-law — a convicted felon — to serve as ambassador to France? That is more than a garden-variety faux pas.
Suspending the enforcement of a statute that criminalizes U.S. businesses engaging in bribery (The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act).
Canceling President Biden’s security briefing.
Canceling security details for Dr. Fauci, John Bolton, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Canceling security briefings for former Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Wouldn’t using both as resources on national security issues make better sense?
Removing General Milley’s portrait from the wall in the Pentagon. Petty, petty, petty.
The Insane:
Talking about “taking ownership” of Gaza. Most of us gasped when we heard this nonsense. U.S. foreign policy should not be hijacked to create real estate development opportunities.
Pardoning January 6 insurrectionists that injured police and destroyed property. One has already been shot dead by police while resisting arrest for a new crime.
Suggesting Canada should be “The 51st State.” Trump was not kidding.
The Panama Canal and Greenland. Imperialism is alive and well inside the White House (or, better said, inside the president’s brain).
Renaming the Gulf of Mexico. Why?
My analysis could go on. My point? The president has chosen to launch dozens of actions that conflict with the law, are poorly thought-out, alienate allies, and Make America Look Foolish Again.
Many of Trump’s illegal actions are already before the courts. Judges are issuing injunctions and blocking the implementation of many of Trump’s Executive Orders. Sadly, Presidents Musk and Trump have condemned the courts for their actions and will likely continue implementing their plans while appealing the court action.
An impeachment resolution (the first of many) has already been introduced in the House of Representatives. Trump should be lawyering up for another House impeachment, likely if the Democrats retake the House of Representatives in the 2026 elections.
A growing number of Americans are taking a look at what Trump has done in less than a month in office and do not like it. Widespread protests against Trump are coming, and none too soon.
J.E. Dean writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects. A former counsel on Capitol Hill and public affairs consultant, Dean also writes for Dean’s List on Medium and Dean’s Issues & Insights on Substack.
Richard Lynch says
What Trump is doing is both illegal in many cases and illegal. How long can this go on?
Maury Schlesinger says
Unfortunately, the courts are no check on an executive which may choose to ignore its orders. The only remedy for such an abuse of power would be impeachment and removal from office. Could that occur with a Republican majority in Congress?
John Dean says
I share your concern about the president’s executive orders, firings, and other actions. It will go on as long as Congress and the Courts let him.
Thank you for reading the piece. Much appreciated.
Art Cecil says
It’s quite clear that J. E. Dean cannot take a joke or even recognize one right in front of his face. As a former lawyer it’s also surprising he doesn’t recognize an opening negotiating proposal when he sees it. Just over 3 weeks in to Trump’s presidency and Dean is already racing to conclusions that won’t be known for up to four years from now. Absurd.
Deirdre LaMotte says
So, you would risk the stock market, the understandable unease of our international allies as a “joke.”? Sorry, but this is anything but and it is time
for people to realize the precarious spot we are in with this demented man, and the one who is in control.
Musk’s empire in 2015 was fueled by 4.9 BILLION in US substities, you know. Your tax $$$$$
Since Trump has been “elected”, Musk has increased his $$$$ by 270 BILLION DOLLARS.
Hey, if Elon’s really serious about rooting out freeloaders who grew wealthy off of the government, I know a guy who’s ripe for firing, $4.9billion in substities seems like a good idea.
And then the photo opp in the Oval. One could not make this up.
Musk is there dressed like a biker,
and his son “X” is there as a “plant”, picking his nose as Trump is dozing. The real POTUS is asked about the comdoms to Gaza lie, that the condoms were
of course going to Gaza, Mozambique for AIDS, not Gaza in the Mid East.
Musk: I make false claims, or something like that.
And y’all are having a tizzy with our Governor while
democracy burns?
Just wait for the Montgomery County/Prince George’s
County layoffs of government workers!!!! There goes our tax base. Happy??!!
Wilson Dean says
I would add to your excellent list another “Bad,” if not “Insane:” the thoughtless damage he has done not only to the humanitarian USAID efforts but also to farmers throughout the US. Trump is disassembling the bipartisan AID structure that for decades has not only been life-saving to so many people around the world but that has also created enormous appreciation and feelings of goodwill from those recipients toward the United States. The haphazard destruction of this program will render it extremely difficult to ever revive the complex set of organizations needed to make it work. I was under the Trump following had a substantial portion of religious followers who might object to deliberately harming the helpless—apparently not. Too bad Jesus isn’t around to comment on this, although he certainly left us a wealth of teachings on helping the needy (and no teachings about “think of yourself first” that I can recall).
And what about the farmers in our country? The USAID program has been an enormous financial benefit to them, allowing them to sell surplus crops for a good cause. It has also served as a buffer for our own country for when natural disasters have done severe damage to food producing areas of the US. Trump’s stiffing the farmers on back payments as well as future markets should, however, come as no surprise. This is how he has always run his businesses, where he has a long legacy of not paying his contractors and then threatening to crush them in court with his army of lawyers if they object.
Trump’s actions in this area have produced nothing but harmful chaos to everyone involved.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Agree,USAID was our largest soft power asset.Looks like the wonderful late Billy Graham’s not- wonderful son asked for an exception for HIS charity. And it was granted.
Hypocrisy at its worst.
John Dean says
Thank you for an excellent comment–You are, of course, 100 percent right.
James Wilson says
Lord, spare us from the wrath of a madman and a mad man.
John Dean says
Well said. I hope that Musk will return to Tesla and SpaceX soon. I’m told he has a short attention span. I can also see Trump tiring of being upstaged..
Thank you for reading the piece. We live in deeply troubled times.
Art Cecil says
It’s disappointing that so many are angered by a serious attempt to uncover and stop wasteful taxpayer-funded spending. How is such a position possible?
John Dean says
Let me politely suggest that you may misunderstand why so many people are “angered” by DOGE and its proposals to downsize the federal government. DOGE purports to be able to identify waste, fraud, and abuse without bothering to dive into the details. DOGE has a tiny staff of people, most of whom have no experience in government whatsoever.
I worked on two presidential transition teams. We took two months to examine individual programs and offices and still had work to do when Inauguration Day came around. DOGE is taking a reckless, meat-ax approach to reforming government. Even setting aside whether actions taken on DOGE’s findings are legal, it is highly likely many of them will eventually be recognized as serious mistakes.
That is why people are angry–because the Trump administration’s “attempt” is not serious.
HR Worthington says
In those two transition teams, and in the two months of serious and careful examination, did anyone identify taxpayer money going to fund gain of function research in China as a program that should be cut? Apparently not. Reckless, indeed.
Dennis Glackin says
And this is only one month in. We have 47 more months of this madness!
John Dean says
I hope not. The 2026 mid-term elections will likely give us a Democratic House of Representatives. Once the Legislative Branch is re-empowered, Trump’s efforts will be slowed if not stopped. Hopefully, 2027 (January) will not be too late.
Paul Rybon says
Most people are only now recognizing that the DOGE setup was put together by Barack Obama.
John Dean says
Forgie me, but I’m not sure what you mean.
Sarah Oppenheimer says
Looks like the threat to democracy has become a constitutional crisis!
HR Worthington says
“Trumpism” is simple. It isn’t difficult to understand at all:
1. The policies of the Establishment Class over the last 40 years haven’t worked for the majority of the American Electorate. I know the cognoscenti think they did, but basic statistics (and ex post outcomes) tell a very different story. They can be forgiven for denying the obvious. I might too, in their circumstance. Politico ran a very good article recently: “Voters Were Right About the Economy. The Data Was Wrong.” It is worth a read.
2. There was no real alternative. Unlike Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Biden, Trump’s nomination wasn’t managed by party elites. Ms. Harris wasn’t even properly nominated but anointed. Exasperated by being told constantly they were wrong, and everything was wonderful with their health care, schools, the economy, etc. Voters went with the only real alternative they had. The convict who was sentenced to nothing.
3. The Establishment Class has lost all credibility. COVID was a lab leak. The vaccine was not 98% effective. Masks and social distancing were not “Science.” Mr. Trump did not call neo-Nazi’s fine people. None of that was true.
4. People have been conditioned. I, like you, and every person on this planet, was born to a mother and not a “birthing-person.” When you force these ideas on people with the weight of Federal Law, renaming the Guld of Mexico seems less “insane” by comparison.
Forget all this though, clearly there is nothing to be learned. Who cares if the Pentagon has never passed an audit. Audits are for little people. Let’s hire 80,000 new IRS workers and draw up some impeachment articles. That worked last time. I wish them good luck.
Perhaps you should watch Groundhog Day, it would be more fitting. -H.R.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading my piece. I’m unsure what you are trying to say in your response, so I’m not commenting or responding.
Reed Fawell 3 says
Nice, insightful summation of past and current affairs.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Curious, did you NAZI this coming?
HR Worthington says
I apologize. I am the one misunderstood your piece. I thought you were using the “analytical framework” of a 1960s Spaghetti Western to understand “Trumpism.” I was offering up an alternative explanation which perhaps did not fit your “framework” perfectly but was nonetheless a genuine attempt at answering it.
I see now that I missed the point and have wasted my time. You weren’t seriously trying to understand “Trumpism.” Your piece was really about eliciting incoherent responses from some your less-intelligent readers that have been inadvisably mixing their medications. -HR
Sam Willson says
I would respectfully disagree with the idea that a growing number of Americans are not liking Trumps actions. Most I talk to (at least the ones not benefitting from the DC status quo) love seeing light shown on the corruption we already knew existed. Why are democrats mad at the people exposing the waste and theft rather than the people wasting and stealing?
Deirdre LaMotte says
There is, absolutely, government waste, on the Federal, state and local levels. But, most are due to inefficiency. As government services expand, there needs to be greater oversight . But, cutting essential services and bedrocks of our Democracy is both stupid and incredibly lazy. But, that seems to be Trump’s hallmark – he’s incredibly lazy. Apparently, so is Musk. Neither has the ability to care about “people”, and it “the people” that our government is here to serve. That is why we have protections, checks and balances. The longer the GOP lets this go on, the more power Congress will lose. And, the less power each individual will have.
IGs have all been fired. So much for the independent, non partisan watch dogs, they are gone and it’s open season on corruption here and abroad.
It appears Elon defines “fraud” as someone who isn’t me getting the money!
Deirdre LaMotte says
Sam, I would say to you that the “waste, fraud and abuse” is just a cover story. Trump and Musk
are not acting in good faith, they want to politicize the nation’s government to get rid of any decent.
Eliminating Inspector Generals, who are nonpartisan and who act as the eyes on corruption, have been fired. First act of an authoritarian:get rid of gatekeepers.
We are looking at the richest people in the world, literally, taking over our nation. The dismantling
of USAID, Medicare and Medicare, Social Security are being done by Billionaires. Think about that.
No worry for them about starvation, homelessness, monthly housing bills not being paid, loss of
government jobs. These people could not care less. It is for tax cuts because just being a billionaire
is not enough. And we will all pay their bill through 4 trillion in tax cuts for only them.
I doubt any MAGA will be swayed. I-have said these people would rather die penniless than not
support their avatar of hate. It is cultural and visceral and there is no changing this.
.
Deirdre LaMotte says
The comment by Greg Sargent that says it all:
Shockingly, it turns out that empowering the richest human being on the planet to maliciously and gratuitously heap additional misery on that planet’s most poor, hungry, and desperate people might—just might—pose a niggling political problem to President Donald Trump
You think?!
Walter Parsons says
Amazing